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Seasons in the Indian sub-continent are six in number, referred to as Shad Rtus (Samskrit: षड् ऋतवः). Seasons are related to the movement of the earth around the sun. Seasons are cyclical and refer to the time period known by special climatic conditions. As the sun travels in the ecliptic, the seasons change. There are six seasons discussed in Indian traditions and each season consists of two months. Vasanta Sampat (Spring equinox) marks the beginning of the spring season and Sharat Sampat (Autumn equinox) marks the beginning of the autumn season. Sun’s entry into the Sayana Makara rashi or Capricorn zodiac (Winter Solstice), called Uttarayana marks the beginning of the winter season, and entry into the Sayana Karka rashi or Cancer zodiac (Summer Solstice) called Dakshinayana marks the beginning of the rainy season.   

Seasons in the Indian sub-continent are six in number, referred to as Shad Rtus (Samskrit: षड् ऋतवः).  

Seasons are related to the movement of the earth around the sun. Seasons are cyclical and refer to the time period known by special climatic conditions. As the sun travels in the ecliptic, the seasons change. There are six seasons discussed in Indian traditions and each season consists of two months. Vasanta Sampat (Spring equinox) marks the beginning of the spring season and Sharat Sampat (Autumn equinox) marks the beginning of the autumn season. Sun’s entry into the Sayana Makara rashi or Capricorn zodiac (Winter Solstice), called Uttarayana marks the beginning of the winter season, and entry into the Sayana Karka rashi or Cancer zodiac (Summer Solstice) called Dakshinayana marks the beginning of the rainy season.   

To read this article in Hindi, click [[Six Seasons (छह ऋतुएँ)|'''Six Seasons (छह ऋतुएँ)''']]

To read this article in Hindi, click [[Six Seasons (छह ऋतुएँ)|'''Six Seasons (छह ऋतुएँ)''']]

Synonyms of Rtu found in various texts include Kaala, Beejam, Saterakam, Samayam, and Maasadvayatmaka kala. <ref name=":0">Dr. Surkant Jha, Jyotir Vigyan Dictionary, 2009, Varanasi: Chowkhamba Krishnadas Academy, Kalasarg, (pp. 15).</ref>

Synonyms of Rtu found in various texts include Kaala, Beejam, Saterakam, Samayam, and Maasadvayatmaka kala. <ref name=":0">Dr. Surkant Jha, Jyotir Vigyan Dictionary, 2009, Varanasi: Chowkhamba Krishnadas Academy, Kalasarg, (pp. 15).</ref>

== Factors involved in formation of seasons ==

== Factors involved in the formation of seasons ==

Many countries reckon four seasons, namely, spring, summer, fall and winter each having three months. Indian system of time reckoning has two additional seasons, rainy (Varsha Rtu) and pre-winter (Hemanta Rtu). Generally, seasons are based on solar time in Western systems of time keeping. Bharatiya [[Kalamana (कालमानम्)|Kalamana]] or Indian system of time keeping considers nine ways to measure time. At least five factors influence the formation of seasons.

Many countries reckon four seasons, namely, spring, summer, fall and winter each having three months. Indian system of time reckoning has two additional seasons, rainy (Varsha Rtu) and pre-winter (Hemanta Rtu). Generally, seasons are based on solar time in Western systems of time keeping. Bharatiya [[Kalamana (कालमानम्)|Kalamana]] or Indian system of time keeping considers nine ways to measure time. At least five factors influence the formation of seasons.

Synonyms for the winter season are vibration (कम्पनः), kottana (कोटनः), kodan (कोडनः), tapa (as) तपः(अस्), tuhinartu (तुहिनर्तुः), Shishir (शिशिरः), shita (शीतः), shikha (शैखः) Shaishirah (शैशिरः), Shaishah (शैषः), Saishah (सैषः), and Himkutah (हिमकूटः) <ref name=":0" />

Synonyms for the winter season are vibration (कम्पनः), kottana (कोटनः), kodan (कोडनः), tapa (as) तपः(अस्), tuhinartu (तुहिनर्तुः), Shishir (शिशिरः), shita (शीतः), shikha (शैखः) Shaishirah (शैशिरः), Shaishah (शैषः), Saishah (सैषः), and Himkutah (हिमकूटः) <ref name=":0" />

== The Importance of Seasons. The Importance of Seasons ==

== The Importance of Seasons ==

The relationship of the seasons with human life is well established in ancient texts which reveal the significance and connections. Some of these texts include:

The relationship of the seasons with human life is well established in ancient texts which reveal the significance and connections. Some of these texts include:

Sattva, rajas, and tamas are the three qualities well-studied by the Acharyas in the tradition of Indian Darshanas. According to them, all worldly systems function following these three qualities. Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are the three gunas in Ayurveda. The entire medical science of Ayurveda is dependent on these three. The Darshanic qualities of sattva, rajas, tamas and vata, pitta, kapha of Ayurveda are closely associated with the seasons. Sattva, rajas, tamas and vata, pitta, kapha are always present in the body of living beings each being enhanced by depressing the other two qualities. The outburst of sattva by depressing rajas and tamas, and the same is seen in the case of vata, pitta, kapha where the outburst of one guna happens by depressing the other two. As stated about the origins of Vata Pitta and Kapha:

Sattva, rajas, and tamas are the three qualities well-studied by the Acharyas in the tradition of Indian Darshanas. According to them, all worldly systems function following these three qualities. Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are the three gunas in Ayurveda. The entire medical science of Ayurveda is dependent on these three. The Darshanic qualities of sattva, rajas, tamas and vata, pitta, kapha of Ayurveda are closely associated with the seasons. Sattva, rajas, tamas and vata, pitta, kapha are always present in the body of living beings each being enhanced by depressing the other two qualities. The outburst of sattva by depressing rajas and tamas, and the same is seen in the case of vata, pitta, kapha where the outburst of one guna happens by depressing the other two. As stated about the origins of Vata Pitta and Kapha:

1.      आकाशवायुभ्यां वातः – Vata is generated from the sky and the air.

# आकाशवायुभ्यां वातः – Vata is generated from the sky and the air.

 

# अग्निजलाभ्यां पित्तम् – Pitta originates from fire and water.

2.      अग्निजलाभ्यां पित्तम् – Pitta originates from fire and water.

# जलपृथिवीभ्यां कफः – Kapha is from water and earth.

 

3.      जलपृथिवीभ्यां कफः – Kapha is from water and earth.

Similarly -

Similarly -

4.      तमोबहुला पृथ्वी - The earth is rich in tamoguna.

# तमोबहुला पृथ्वी - The earth is rich in tamoguna.

 

# सत्त्वबहुलं पित्तम् - Pitta is rich in sattva qualities.

5.      सत्त्वबहुलं पित्तम् - Pitta is rich in sattva qualities.

# रजोबहुलं वायुः - Vayu is rich in rajoguna.

 

6.      रजोबहुलं वायुः - Vayu is rich in rajoguna.

This proves the similarity of Kapha with Tamaguna, Pitta with Sattvaguna, and Vata with Rajoguna.

This proves the similarity of Kapha with Tamaguna, Pitta with Sattvaguna, and Vata with Rajoguna.

चैत्रे मासि जगति ब्रह्मा ससर्ज प्रथमेऽहनि। शुक्ले पक्षे समग्रन्तु तदा सूर्योदये सति॥ प्रवर्तयामास तदा कालस्य गणनामपि। ग्रहान् राशीनृतून् मासान्वत्सरान् वत्सराधिपान् ॥  

चैत्रे मासि जगति ब्रह्मा ससर्ज प्रथमेऽहनि। शुक्ले पक्षे समग्रन्तु तदा सूर्योदये सति॥ प्रवर्तयामास तदा कालस्य गणनामपि। ग्रहान् राशीनृतून् मासान्वत्सरान् वत्सराधिपान् ॥  

In the Bhagavad-gita, Maharshi Vyasa describes the primacy of Kusumakar Vasanta by introducing its divine significance:

In the Bhagavad-gita, Maharshi Vyasa describes the primacy of Kusumakar Vasanta by introducing its divine significance:  

ऋतूनां कुसुमाकरः।  

ऋतूनां कुसुमाकरः।